How to boil an egg

Contributor Updated February 21, 2017

Eggs are a rich source of protein and vitamins and are generally healthy to eat, unless you have a high cholesterol level. You can eat eggs raw, boiled or cooked in a pan as scrambled eggs or an omelette. Boiling eggs is one of the easiest ways to prepare them.

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Place the raw egg in a saucepan.

Run cold water into the saucepan until the water is 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the egg.

Place the saucepan on a stove and cook over medium heat until the water begins to boil.

Reduce the heat to low.

Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes for soft-boiled eggs or 10 to 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs.

Remove the egg with a spoon or ladle and let it cool slowly, or run cold water over it to cool it more quickly.

Tip

Use hard-boiled eggs to make deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches.

Warning

Don't over cook your eggs, it can cause a green ring to appear around the egg yolk because of the iron and sulfur in the egg. This will not affect the taste of the egg, but overcooking will hurt the protein quality.

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